A dramatic late intervention from substitute Christopher Nkunku rescued a point for AC Milan in a 1-1 draw away at Fiorentina on Sunday, but the result saw the Rossoneri lose further ground in the Serie A title race.
Late Drama at the Artemio Franchi
The match appeared to be slipping away from the visitors after defender Pietro Comuzzo broke the deadlock for Fiorentina in the 66th minute. Comuzzo rose highest to meet a corner with a powerful header, leaving Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan with no chance.
Milan, who had also needed a late goal to draw with Genoa just days earlier, pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Their persistence was finally rewarded in the dying moments of normal time.
Nkunku Steps Up Off the Bench
Introduced as a second-half substitute, French forward Christopher Nkunku proved to be the hero. In the 90th minute, midfielder Youssouf Fofana played a precise pass into the path of Nkunku inside the penalty area. The former RB Leipzig man made no mistake, firing a clinical finish past Fiorentina goalkeeper David de Gea to spark wild celebrations amongst the travelling supporters.
The goal ensured Milan extended their remarkable unbeaten run in Italy's top flight to 18 consecutive matches. Their only league defeat this campaign came on the opening day of the season.
Title Race Ramifications
Despite the character shown to secure a draw, the result represents a missed opportunity for Stefano Pioli's side. This was their second stalemate in just four days.
Milan remain in second place in the Serie A table with 40 points. However, they are now two points behind arch-rivals Inter Milan, who had the chance to extend their lead when they faced Napoli later on Sunday. Meanwhile, Fiorentina's point leaves them languishing in the lower reaches of the table with just 14 points.
The draw highlights the fine margins in the Scudetto chase. While Milan's resilience is commendable, dropping points from winning positions in consecutive games could prove costly in a tightly contested battle with their city rivals.
